Improving entrepreneurial competencies in the classroom: an extension and in-study replication

Purpose – A recent paper by Morris et al. (2013b) presented evidence that students can develop entrepreneurial competencies through international fieldwork. This paper explores whether the same results can be developed in a traditional classroom setting. Design/methodology/approach – The study is a...

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Main Authors: Caroline E.W. Glackin, Steven E. Phelan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Emerald Publishing 2020-12-01
Series:New England Journal of Entrepreneurship
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/NEJE-04-2020-0005/full/pdf?title=improving-entrepreneurial-competencies-in-the-classroom-an-extension-and-in-study-replication
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author Caroline E.W. Glackin
Steven E. Phelan
author_facet Caroline E.W. Glackin
Steven E. Phelan
author_sort Caroline E.W. Glackin
collection DOAJ
description Purpose – A recent paper by Morris et al. (2013b) presented evidence that students can develop entrepreneurial competencies through international fieldwork. This paper explores whether the same results can be developed in a traditional classroom setting. Design/methodology/approach – The study is a systematic replication of the Morris study with the addition of a matched pair, quasi-experimental design, with a self-replication. Data were collected on 13 self-reported competencies at the start of a semester from two groups using the Morris instrument. The treatment group was exposed to a curriculum designed to teach entrepreneurial competencies, and both groups were re-surveyed at the end of the semester. The process was then repeated with a different cohort, one year later, to replicate the initial study. Findings – Five competencies saw significant increases in the first treatment group. However, only three of these competencies increased more in the treatment group than the control group. In the replication study, only one competency was significantly higher in the treatment group, and that competency was not one of the original three. Practical implications – Educators and policymakers should select a curriculum that is valid and reliable. Entrepreneurship educators and policymaker should devote more time to evaluating the effectiveness of different pedagogical techniques for improving entrepreneurial competencies. Originality/value – To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the first studies in entrepreneurship education to undertake a matched pair, quasi-experimental design with an in-study replication. The results indicate that serious inferential errors arise if simpler designs are used, even though such designs are the norm in entrepreneurship research.
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spelling doaj.art-b4699041b95841748ef570c2fcd2a1d42022-12-22T04:29:44ZengEmerald PublishingNew England Journal of Entrepreneurship1550-333X2574-89042020-12-01232799610.1108/NEJE-04-2020-0005653005Improving entrepreneurial competencies in the classroom: an extension and in-study replicationCaroline E.W. Glackin0Steven E. Phelan1Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, North Carolina, USAFayetteville State University, Fayetteville, North Carolina, USAPurpose – A recent paper by Morris et al. (2013b) presented evidence that students can develop entrepreneurial competencies through international fieldwork. This paper explores whether the same results can be developed in a traditional classroom setting. Design/methodology/approach – The study is a systematic replication of the Morris study with the addition of a matched pair, quasi-experimental design, with a self-replication. Data were collected on 13 self-reported competencies at the start of a semester from two groups using the Morris instrument. The treatment group was exposed to a curriculum designed to teach entrepreneurial competencies, and both groups were re-surveyed at the end of the semester. The process was then repeated with a different cohort, one year later, to replicate the initial study. Findings – Five competencies saw significant increases in the first treatment group. However, only three of these competencies increased more in the treatment group than the control group. In the replication study, only one competency was significantly higher in the treatment group, and that competency was not one of the original three. Practical implications – Educators and policymakers should select a curriculum that is valid and reliable. Entrepreneurship educators and policymaker should devote more time to evaluating the effectiveness of different pedagogical techniques for improving entrepreneurial competencies. Originality/value – To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the first studies in entrepreneurship education to undertake a matched pair, quasi-experimental design with an in-study replication. The results indicate that serious inferential errors arise if simpler designs are used, even though such designs are the norm in entrepreneurship research.https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/NEJE-04-2020-0005/full/pdf?title=improving-entrepreneurial-competencies-in-the-classroom-an-extension-and-in-study-replicationentrepreneurial competenciesentrepreneurship educationmeasurement
spellingShingle Caroline E.W. Glackin
Steven E. Phelan
Improving entrepreneurial competencies in the classroom: an extension and in-study replication
New England Journal of Entrepreneurship
entrepreneurial competencies
entrepreneurship education
measurement
title Improving entrepreneurial competencies in the classroom: an extension and in-study replication
title_full Improving entrepreneurial competencies in the classroom: an extension and in-study replication
title_fullStr Improving entrepreneurial competencies in the classroom: an extension and in-study replication
title_full_unstemmed Improving entrepreneurial competencies in the classroom: an extension and in-study replication
title_short Improving entrepreneurial competencies in the classroom: an extension and in-study replication
title_sort improving entrepreneurial competencies in the classroom an extension and in study replication
topic entrepreneurial competencies
entrepreneurship education
measurement
url https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/NEJE-04-2020-0005/full/pdf?title=improving-entrepreneurial-competencies-in-the-classroom-an-extension-and-in-study-replication
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